Today we released fruux v0.7.1, besides several iCal syncing related bugfixes this version includes a french localization, which was generously donated from linathael over at HardMac.com/MacBidouille.com (Thank you, linathael!).

We are also working hard on our main site at fruux.com. It’s still work in progress, but you’ll find our changelog and also our roadmap there.

Please always remember, that fruux is still in beta.
Backup your data:

• Addressbook: File -> Export -> Addressbook Archive
• iCal: File -> Backup iCal…

If you are affected by any bugs, please let us know (support @ fruux . com). We are pretty responsive and will do our best to get any bugs you might experience resolved as fast as possible.

Can’t wait for the new version? Here are the update instructions:

• Start “System Preferences”
• Start “fruux”
• Click “Synchronize Now”
• If you don’t already have v0.7.1 installed, the “New version availiable” message will appear
• After a few seconds you’ll be asked if you want to replace the current version. Click “Replace”
• Wait a few seconds, until the new version is installed
• Click “Synchronize Now”
• If the System asks you for permission to use the fruux Keychain item, click “Allow”

We are happy that our fruux v0.7 rollout went quite smoothly.

However we’re still not entirely satisfied, because some of you are affected by bugs.
There are currently three known issues with iCal syncing:

• if you heavily use recurring events, your sync might break (we’re working on this one)
• Obviously some of our users from russia are affected by an encoding bug (we’re working on this one)
• Some users have problems with duplication and repeating sync conflicts (so far all of them used other sync systems in addition to fruux, we’re working on this one, too)

Only very few users are struck by those bugs, but still we are extremely sorry for any inconvenience caused! Please keep in mind that fruux is still in beta. We’re working really hard fixing those bugs as fast as possible.

If you are affected by bugs or need help, please get in touch with us:
support (at) fruux . com

(Please don’t forget to enter your correct emailaddress, if you use our contact form. If you email directly to our support emailaddress, please include the file ~/Library/Application Support/Fruux/Sync.log).

Some of our users already work with our addressbook syncing in productive enviroments. If you need addressbook syncing e.g. in your office and there is no way you could wait for our bugfix release, please contact us. We might be able to offer you a customized version of fruux, which just syncs your addressbook.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any problems concerning fruux! Thank you for your support.

Well - not exactly free beer. We just wanted to catch your interest. And obviously it worked.

Here is a brief summary of the topics we are currently working on.

basic features:

• signup and modify your account via client application
• deploying additional sync servers (we thought about using google app engine, but currently gae is no final product and has no ssl support. anyway we have a working beta of the fruux server running on gae. if google starts production mode and adds ssl support: we are already prepared)
• addressbook group syncing
• webapplication (manage your contacts on the go)
• social features (described here)

maybe basic, maybe pro features:

• ical syncing
• preferences syncing
• safari bookmark syncing

pro features:

• external sync plugins
  • google contacts plugin (sync your contacts with your gmail / google apps contacts)
  • google calendar plugin (sync your ical calendars with your google calendar

Although all of the above is work in progress, you wont see everything right in the next release!

We’d rather like to hear what features you would like to see in the next version of fruux! What features are most important to you? Are there any additional features you’d like to see in the next version of fruux?

We are looking forward for your comments, your posting on our fruux @ facebook page and/or your emails.

UPDATE:

Maybe we should postpone our google contacts plugin? Apple added iPhone <-> Addressbook.app <-> google contact syncing with 10.5.3 (via: Google Mac Blog).